Sunday, January 24 2016
Building People of Substance for Works of Power
It is an important time to be alive, Friend.
I have been slow to get this note out. The Lord spoke to me concerning this year. He has given me some things that we will want to attend to: we need revival in the land. I love to talk about “spiritual” things, but watching the news, I am impressed that attention to our national elections must be a priority. We live in dangerous and critical times. As Christians we have the responsibility to be good citizens by informing ourselves on the issues and the candidates, praying diligently, and getting out to vote. At the risk of boring you, here are a few things to remember as you make your electoral choices:
1. Life is sacred. Zech 12:1 “Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him”: Acts 17:25 “ …since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.” Who decides when a baby becomes a human, or when a life should end? Psalm 139:13-16. Life and death is the business of the Lord. It needs to be taken from the hands of the abortionist and the euthanist and the government bureaucrat. I have to find out where each candidate stands on these issues.
2. Marriage. Biblically there is not much room for discussion on the subject. Marriage is a man and a woman joined by God, permanently. Everything else is something other than marriage. Matt 19:4-6. This issue has already been decided by the courts in favor of the devil and his crowd. The question is, how far is the candidate willing to go to protect your freedom of religion? This is going to be a key issue for the church. We need leaders who are committed friends of the Church and marriage.
3. Freedom of speech is key to our calling. “Amendment I. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” There is no restriction in the constitution on prayer, gospel presentation, or Bible reading anywhere, any time. Our courts have already determined that Christian speech is essentially unprotected. It is the only kind of speech that is legally restricted in schools and public forums. You can curse but not pray. It would be prudent to examine the position and history of each candidate regarding suppression of dissident ideas. Our whole life as Christians is about speech – this is important. Romans 10:17/ Mk 16:15-20.
4. Israel is the apple of God’s eye. In God’s eyes this is of a very high priority. As our attitude toward Israel goes, so goes our blessing. Political Israel is not always right, but it always has the right to exist and to defend itself from aggression. We should be their ally in those endeavors. Nearly every candidate expresses support for Israel at election time, but it is more important to look to their record over time to see how they actually behave. Genesis 12:1-3 / Ps 122:6.
5. The rule of law: Proverbs 24:21. Our constitution is the written basis for our system, the root of the rule of law. The rule of law is essential to any kind of security. If we are governed by men, including entrenched government bureaucrats who rule by regulation, we are never able to plan for the future. We are instead in constant doubt as to what the rules will be tomorrow. Vote for those who insist that we play by the Constitution, not the regulators.
6. Economic issues: Without belaboring the subject, we need to be mindful of God’s priorities in these issues. God is not a capitalist or a communist. His system is always a balance between personal property rights, freedom of choice, reward for work, and care for those who truly are unable to care for themselves. Look for candidates who seem to grasp these concepts.
Scripture Reading: The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed; they shout for joy when the wicked die. Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper, but the talk of the wicked tears it apart. (Proverbs 11:10-11 NLT)
Somebody Said: "I know no safe depositary of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education. This is the true corrective of abuses of constitutional power." –Thomas Jefferson, 1820
Don’t be swayed by TV ads or YouTube videos. Ad agencies are paid to sell candidates just like they sell cars and stuffed toys and big Macs. Look to the content of the character as reflected by actions rather than words: Do your homework!! We live in the information age. Take advantage of it. Above all, PRAY! Start now, don’t wait. Pray for our nation, our leaders, and the Church.
Virgil Stokes
FCF of Tucson
3141 W. Ironwood Hill Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85745
520-792-FCFT
http://www.fcftucson.org
Catch our Bible school classes at www.fmtionline.com
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